Bulletin-board



1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IVILLIAM P. RANKIN, OF ROCHESTER, MICHIGAN.

BULLETIN-BOARD.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 468,550, a e February 9, 1892. Application filed March 9, 1891. Serial No. 384,357. (No model.)

T0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM P. RANKIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rochester, in the county of Oakland and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bulletin-Boards; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in bulletin-boards, especially designed for use in school-rooms; and it consists in a certain construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully set forth, the essential features of the device being pointed out particularly in the claims.

The object of the invention is to provide a display-bulletin that may be arranged to in dicate the timefor recitation of the several classes in their divers studies and the time for the various exercises during the day, and in which the parts are interchangeable, so that the matter displayed may be changed from day to day, or as may be desired. This object is attained by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front view of my improved bulletin-chart as arranged to indicate the ti me for hearing the classes in the several studies in their respective courses. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on dotted line 1 1 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3

is a transverse section on dotted line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. at is a vertical section on dotted line 3 3 of Fig. 1, the hinged central frame being swung out at the top. Fig. 5 is a sectional perspective of the device, showing one of the bulletin blocks or panels removed and a portion of the opposite or back face of Fig. 1.

Referring to the letters of reference, A indicates the stiles, and B and O the rails, of the main bulletiirframe.

D indicates a central swing-frame the lower end of which is hinged to the bottom rail 0 of the main frame, permitting the upper end to swing outward, as shown in Fig. 4:. The frame D is provided with a way therein, having in each side a continuous groove or mortise adapted to receive the tenons a of the blocks E, that slide in said way, and which are placed therein from the top. The tenons a, of said blocks, engaging in the grooves of said way, retain the blocks therein and permit of their being removed when desired. The outer faces of the blocks E stand flush with the outer face of the frame D, shown in Figs. 3 and 5, and are provided with figures indicating hours and fractions thereof, as shown in Fig. 1.

F indicates a series of oblong sections or panels provided with a tenon at each end. The tenons c on the outer ends of the panels F are adapted to enter the groove or continuous mortise e (see Fig. 5) in the inner face of the stiles A of the main frame, the inner ends of said panels lying upon the transverse bars H, extending across the back face of the main frame from top to bottom. (Clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 5.)

To place the panels F within the main frame, the central frame is swung outward, as shown in Fig. 4, when the tenons c of the outer ends of said panels may be readily entered in the groove 6 in the stiles. After all the panels have been setin place, one upon the other, the frame D is swung baclf, causing the flanges f, projecting from the sides of said frame, to bear upon the tenons b on the inner ends of said panels, securely retaining them in place, as shown in Fig. 5.

011 the outer face of the panels F are printed or mounted the names of the various studies are arranged opposite the blocks E to indicate the hour of noon and the time for recess. This bulletin is then displayed to the view of all the scholars in the room, showing them the course of studies for the day and at what time each class will be heard in a certain study, said bulletin remaining where it may be referred to from time to time.

This improved bulletin-chart may also be used by merchants, in which to display the prices of the various articles of merchandise, the removable blocks and panels permitting the name of the article and the price of same to be readily changed.

Thebnlletin-board herein shown is arranged for a school having two teachers, two classes being called at the same time. The block indicating the hour for the classes coming at the same time is arranged between the panels representing the studies for that time. (See top row in Fig. 1.)

In schools having but one teacher the main frame is provided with but one series of panels representing studies, the swinging frame in that case being at one side of the main frame.

The object of having the blocks and panels removable is to enable the teacher to arrange the study and hour of study as may seem best.-

Having thus fully set forth my invention, What I claim to be new is- 1. In a bulletin-board, the combination of the main frame having a series of panels detachably located therein, the swinging framesection hinged to the main frame and having a grooved way therein, and a series of movable blocks located in said way, having tenons that freely enter the grooves thereof, said blocks and panels having mounted on their outer face suitable inscription characters, substantially as specified.

2. In a bulletin-board, the combination of the main frame having two rows of panels detachably secured therein, and the swinging frame hinged to the main frame between the adjacent or inner ends of said panels, said swinging frame carrying a series of movable blocks and having the laterallyextending flanges that engage the inner ends of the panels of the main frame to retain them in place, said panels and blocks being provided with characters on their outer faces, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

v XVILLIAM P. RANKIN.

Witnesses:

E. S. WHEELER, E. B. BAENZIGER. 

